Effect of Frothers on Foamability, Foam Stability, and Bubble Size

Objective To compare foam bubble size and bubble size distribution, stability, and degradation rate of commercially available polidocanol endovenous microfoam (Varithena®) and physician-compounded foams using a number of laboratory tests. Methods Foam properties of polidocanol endovenous microfoam and physician-compounded foams were measured and compared using a glass-plate method and a Sympatec QICPIC image analysis method to measure bubble size and bubble size distribution, Turbiscan™ LAB for foam half time and drainage and a novel biomimetic vein model to measure foam stability. Physician-compounded foams composed of polidocanol and room air, CO2, or mixtures of oxygen and carbon dioxide (O2:CO2) were generated by different methods. Results Polidocanol endovenous microfoam was found to have a narrow bubble size distribution with no large (>500 µm) bubbles. Physician-compounded foams made with the Tessari method had broader bubble size distribution and large bubbles, which have an impact on foam stability. Polidocanol endovenous microfoam had a lower degradation rate than any physician-compounded foams, including foams made using room air (p < 0.035). The same result was obtained at different liquid to gas ratios (1:4 and 1:7) for physician-compounded foams. In all tests performed, CO2 foams were the least stable and different O2:CO2 mixtures had intermediate performance. In the biomimetic vein model, polidocanol endovenous microfoam had the slowest degradation rate and longest calculated dwell time, which represents the length of time the foam is in contact with the vein, almost twice that of physician-compounded foams using room air and eight times better than physician-compounded foams prepared using equivalent gas mixes. Conclusion Bubble size, bubble size distribution and stability of various sclerosing foam formulations show that polidocanol endovenous microfoam results in better overall performance compared with physician-compounded foams. Polidocanol endovenous microfoam offers better stability and cohesive properties in a biomimetic vein model compared to physician-compounded foams. Polidocanol endovenous microfoam, which is indicated in the United States for treatment of great saphenous vein system incompetence, provides clinicians with a consistent product with enhanced handling properties.

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Effect of Frothers on Bubble Size and Foam Stability in Potash Ore Flotation Systems

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering ◽

10.1002/cjce.5450810107 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 63-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Janusz S. Laskowski ◽

Yoon Seong Cho ◽

Kejian Ding

Keyword(s):

Bubble Size ◽

Foam Stability

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Effect of alcohol and polyglycol ether frothers on foam stability, bubble size and coal flotation

International Journal of Mineral Processing ◽

10.1016/j.minpro.2006.09.002 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 126-137 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Ashiwani Kumar Gupta ◽

P.K. Banerjee ◽

Arun Mishra ◽

P. Satish ◽

Pradip

Keyword(s):

Bubble Size ◽

Foam Stability ◽

Coal Flotation

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The Effects Of Controlling Parameters On Polymer Enhanced Foam (PEF) Stability

Jurnal Teknologi ◽

10.11113/jt.v73.1701 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Amin Azdarpour ◽

Radzuan Bin Junin ◽

Muhammad Manan ◽

Hossein Hamidi ◽

Roozbeh Rafati

Keyword(s):

Fresh Water ◽

Bubble Size ◽

Foam Stability ◽

Polymer Concentration ◽

Concentration Increase ◽

Foaming Agent ◽

Stable Foam ◽

Polymer Addition ◽

Paraffin Oil ◽

High Concentrations

In the present study, four surfactants including AOS, SDS, SDBS, and TX100 were used as the foaming agent and a PHPA polymer with relatively low to high concentrations was added to the solutions prepared in both fresh water and 8 wt. % NaCl. Also, paraffin and vaseline oils with different viscosities were used to investigate the effect of oil on PEF stability. Polymer addition to foam can effectively improve foam stability compared with conventional foam stability. In addition, the polymer concentration increase could lead to foam stability increase; thus, the maximum polymer concentration in solutions could produce the most stable foam. Solutions with 8 wt. % NaCl had destabilizing effect, that is, unlike solutions with fresh water, it slightly reduced foam stability. Contacted oil in the solutions could substantially reduce foam stability. Also, the destabilizing effect was more severe with paraffin oil rather than vaseline oil. Of all the four surfactants used in this research, SDS had the highest compatibility with PHPA and produced the most stable foam, while AOS, SDBS, and finally TX100 surfactants were in next orders. In addition, microscopic photos showed that the type of solution has a significant effect on bubble size and foam stability.

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